Religious groups plant trees

Religious groups plant trees

BOGOR: Two religious organizations and an environmental group
joined together on Sunday to re-green a water catchment area in
Megamendung, Bogor, planting some 5,000 seedlings on a hill in
the area.

Participants included the Indonesian Pandita Sabha Buddha
Dharma Foundation (YPSBDI), the Muhammadiyah Youth Organization
(IRM) and the Environment Movement (GPSK) along with local
farmers and high school students.

YPSBDI spokesman Alim Sudio said the tree-planting activity
would improve the environment in the area as well as promote
understanding between those of different faiths.

More tree planting activities are scheduled for Bandung,
Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Madiun, Pontianak, Makassar and Medan, Alim
said.

Farmer coordinator James A. Mare said the tree planting
exercise was a boon to the area.

"There is a large amount of critical land here, therefore
these programs should be expanded," he said. -- JP